LOS ANGELES, July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Canopus BioPharma
Inc. (OTC Pink: CBIA) today announced topline results from a
Compassionate Clinical Trial in China, evaluating the twice daily oral
administration of Mogroside IV (Mogrovir™). Mogrovir™ is a
Toll-like receptor agonist and stimulator of the patient's immune
system. Mogrovir™ was administered orally in combination with
Ribavirn (RBV), for the treatment of Genotype 1, treatment naive
Hepatitis C (HCV) patients. The study showed a statistically
significant result regarding the improvement of both liver function
and increased blood platelet counts. A selection of patients
in the trial also showed a statistically significant reduction in
HCV viral-load levels, in the three month follow up period
post-therapy. HCV Viral-load in these specific patients were
approaching zero after a period of 180 days (90 days Mogrovir™
Treatment and 90 days follow-up). This fact confirmed the immune
activation effects which are expected from the immune activation
characteristics of Mogrovir™.
China has one of the highest
rates of liver cancer of any industrialized country and the
majority of cases are due to chronic HCV infection. An
estimated 36 million people in China are living with HCV infection and
approximately 34-38 percent have the Genotype-1 strain of the
Virus. Genotype-1 HCV is currently the most resistant of the HCV
strains to conventional anti-viral treatments.
Twenty eight patients were enrolled in the Canopus
BioPharma study and all patients completed the study, without any
toxicity or negative side-effects being documented. Compared
to baseline, significant improvements were observed for patients in
malaise, anorexia, food intake, abdominal distension and sleep at
day 90 of the study. Canopus BioPharma is currently co-ordinating
with study centres in Europe and
the USA to duplicate the results
observed from this Chinese study.
Since Hepatitis C and the Dengue Virus are both members of the
Flavivirus family, Canopus BioPharma has initiated discussions in
Singapore and Thailand with the intention of commencing
patient studies with Mogrovir™ alone for the treatment of Dengue
viral infections in patients.
Canopus BioPharma is currently raising additional funds to
conduct additional human studies in order to obtain marketing
approvals from USA, European and
Australian drug authorities.
Canopus BioPharma is positioning itself to become a major player
in the field of Immune-Modulators for the treatment of Viral and
other immune deficiency infections. Canopus BioPharma's unique and
dynamic team is focused on creating effective treatments for
emerging and established diseases like Hepatitis C, Dengue and
Middle East respiratory syndrome
coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
Canopus BioPharma Inc was incorporated in USA seven years ago
and raised US$14.5 million to carry
out Research and Development to produce Mogrovir™ together with a
number of other pipeline products, which are listed on the company
website.
More information is available from www.canopusbiopharma.com
SOURCE Canopus BioPharma Inc.